I Remembered Today Why I Stopped Going To Coin Shows

Any industry is like this. For example, if a car dealer has on his lot a Lexus and a Toyota, and there are customers looking at both cars, which one will he go talk to first?

The coin dealers have to prioritize their time wisely, because when they take out a coin for you to look at they are watching you only, so you do have to be at least a bit serious when asking for their time. Tell them why you're not buying if they ask.

The worst thing you can do is make an impulse buy simply because the price was $200 lower than marked. Inspect it anyways, because there may be a good reason for that price. Lighting at a show is usually pretty poorly organized.

Most businesses simply hire some help with the retail and customer service end of things. It's the expertise that comes as a bonus when you talk with the coin dealer (if at all applicable).

I never even thought of that carl. But I just dont like when people try to play me like I'm stupid. If you ever have any extra danscos or whitmans laying around, let me know.

Steg2, I think I was also at that same coin show, but on the first day ( Fri 9/16). They advertised it as 100 tables and 75 dealers. Looked like about 45 and 30 to me. The one in Richfield last month was 100X better! They're having another one there in late October you should check out! 10/27-29 at the Days Inn just off the OH Turnpike on Rte 8.

I too wish that dealers would price their coins - and also find it funny all the codes they use to know what they want instead. But I also understand that on some coins ( like gold ) the price can fluctuate a lot and they don't want to have to change the stickers every show. I've become used to the fact that most don't mark them upfront - except low grade/price coin dealers.

There are a couple really awful nasty mean dealers at all the NE OH shows. I tend to stay away from them or deal with their "helper" only! A couple are pretty nice tho. Dave Fross, John Sands, Harry Jones(he has a shop), two other John's I can never remember their last names.

I've been to almost all the coin shops in NE OH now. None are very good really, IMO. Plus most charge TAX of 7.75% which ruins almost any deal! Which is why shows are better. More variety, NO TAX, most will come down some on prices if you haggle/schmooze them some.

That show was disappointing, IMO. The Richfield one was so much better! There is a small one on Brookpark Rd early every month that isn't bad. The monthly Eastlake show is RUN by the meanest dealer going LOL. That and the Canton monthly shows are rather worthless, IMO. Dave F and John S are the only dealers at them worth talking to!

NE OH is not a great place for collectors, that is for sure!

I've heard some of the Columbus shows are great, but I've not tried one yet.

GL2U

ilikeikes: I sure wish that system of yours is what they used. I'll try it at the next show I go to but doubt it will work. Many of the dealers that do that usually have a code of many digits. Like ix449irt-33 or stranger ones than that. Once I purchased several coins from a dealer that had codes on the back. I carefully wrote down what he charged for each coin and at home went nuts trying to figure out hos code verses the price.

A couple of comments:

Yes, many dealers have codes on the back indicating what they paid, hope to sell, willing to take, etc. The code could be any combination of 10 letters (not repeating).
COINVALUES is sometimes used. Good luck breaking the codes, you will need quite a few to work it out.

I have seen many dealers treat YN's very nicely. It's not because they think YN's are stupid or ignorant, it's because all dealers and clubs know the future of the hobby belongs to the young and we need more young collectors. My local show always gives prize bags to all youngsters. My daughter was even asked to watch a table by a dealer and he was very nice to her. When I was young, I spent many hours at the local dealer and he treated me very well and I learned a great deal from him. Whenever I made a purchase from him, he would give me change in Wheats, Buffalos and sliver coins as change. Pretty nice.

I have never been to a coin show so thanks for the read it is very intresting to see the diffrent thoughts and opinions and food for thought before I go

"I have been collecting coins on and off since 1988 or so. I am 34 now. I consider myself a "small-time" collector. I don't think i'd get the time of day at a coin show these days. I don't have a lot of money to work with. My grocery store job barely pays my bills. I don't buy high dollar coins really. Overall I am not comfortable in a coin show setting. I don't like the high pressure and rudeness at shows. After reading the posts in this thread, it just reasures my thoughts on the matter."

OUCH! I don't think it nearly THAT BAD. It is true that some dealers are rude and mean and others "size you up"/profile you and treat those they consider to be "lookie-lous" only as the "enemy". But that can be true about salesman in any venue. Car salesman, electronics, and on down. I don't like "profiling" as I can sometimes "look" unlikely while having a checkbook and being ready to sign a 5 figure check for something. I also don't like watches and wear tennis shoes a lot - which are the two things profilers look at to size many up - so they size me up wrong as a potential buyer more often than NOT.

Back to the shows tho, many dealers cater to low-end customers. At least in the shows I go to I see the same 6-8 low-grade dealers all the time. I rarely bother looking at their stuff - as I am getting to the point where most of my desires are at the top end of the shows I am going to, but they are happy to help guys looking for $1-$10 bargains. And if they aren't busy I will chat with them anyway just to meet them and pick their brain a bit. Even those at that end have some wisdom for a newbie.

Some have many albums of nothing over $3 coins. I've seen dealers with many cheapie coin albums and then cases of certified gold and hi end MS coins as well - so they deal in all facets of the price spectrum.

My advice, DO NOT BE INTIMIDATED OR SCARED AWAY. A well placed "thank you very little", or "you have been such a pleasure to talk to" sarcastically can do wonders. LOL Seriously, I just walk away if they are mean or unhelpful. Sometimes they are better at the next show or in a better mood an hour later. I've "lectured" a few in my short time but it typically seems to do no good, so I usually just leave them to their dreary existence.

I have said tho that some of their hardness is deserved. You have idiots who ask them ridiculous questions or offer them ridiculously low offers that turn them sour to folks they don't know. I mentioned in my "big show" thread that a guy interrupted my conversation with a dealer to buy a cheap coin and then demanded a receipt. Stuff like that hardens some of them!

I'm no expert, but a joke here or there or a curiosity question can soften some of the "frumplestiltskins" up. Some just don't soften up until they know you and/or know you are a legit customer.

If your budget is low, don't pester the hi end dealers a lot and then never buy from them. That is what drives them nuts is folks who have no intent on ever buying from them but waste their time or interrupt them when they are catering to legit customers. In almost any situation, I try to keep from hindering their ability to sell to others - so pick your times for questions or negotiating spots. I see many that do not pay attention to what is going on and that irritates me - a fellow buyer. I can only imagine how annoying that is to dealers to deal with all day long. Ask questions when they are not busy, not when they are already handling 3 other customers and measuring bullion for a 4th. Be polite and observant! If they don't return the favor, then move along!

JMHO

Not meaning to 'pig pile' here but I have seen this with the one local dealer we have and at shows. I even hesitate to call them coin shows because they are seemingly much more about selling silver or gold that happens to be a coin. I'm also a small time collector by today's standards. I don't even collect US so most of the tables I see don't even get a second look. And since I am actually interested in collecting versus buying silver, many dealers have nothing to offer. The hobby has really changed from when I was a kid (and that has been awhile). I find fewer and fewer people actually interested in collecting and more and more people interested in finding all of the silver they can for the best price. Everybody is trying to beat everybod to spot or melt or whatever. From my perspective this is sad and has really hurt the hobby as I see it.